State Rep. Christina Ayala charged in domestic fight

Daniel Tepfer, Keila Torres and Brian Lockhart

Updated 9:31 pm, Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Incoming state Rep. Christina Ayala is arraigned in Superior Court, in Bridgeport, Conn. Dec. 4th, 2012. Ayala is charged with breach of peace after, police say, she slapped her boyfriend following an argument late Monday night at their 49 Hillside Ave. home. Ayala is already awaiting trial in a hit and run case.

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BRIDGEPORT -- Newly elected state Rep. Christina Ayala tried to talk police out of arresting her on domestic violence charges Monday night after she slapped her boyfriend for cheating on her.

"She said that she did not want us involved because of who she was," the police report states. Ayala and her boyfriend, Pedro Rodriguez-Ortiz, were charged with breach of peace.

The arrest also raised questions about whether Ayala, a Democrat who was overwhelmingly elected to the 128th District seat, actually lives in her district. The 49 Hillside Avenue address where the incident occurred is not located in the 128th House district, but in the 129th district.

When they arrived at Hillside Ave. about 11:45 p.m., police said they found Pedro Rodriguez-Ortiz, 37, standing on the front porch in an intoxicated state. When they asked him who was inside, he responded: "My girlfriend, state representative Ayala."

Ayala told them everything was fine and that she did not call police.

She told the officers her boyfriend had been out drinking and cheating on her and that they had an argument and were yelling at each other. During the argument Rodriguez-Ortiz called 911, but no one had hit each other, she told officers.

Rodriguez-Ortiz then began yelling at officers: "You're a politician and you aren't going to do (expletive)," according to the report.

They said Rodriguez-Ortiz told them he was sleeping on a couch when Ayala came over and slapped him on the left side of the face. But as officers continued questioning him, they said Rodriguez-Ortiz became argumentative, yelling and swearing and they ended up arresting him.

In the meantime, officers continued to question Ayala. They said she first denied slapping Rodriguez-Ortiz, and then admitted she had.

During the campaign, Ayala said she lived on Noble Avenue in the city's East Side. She is registered to vote under that address; but public records show the utilities at the Hillside Avenue address were connected under Ayala's name in October 2011. She also has a cellphone registered using that address.

She doesn't seem to have any bills listed under the Noble Avenue address. State law dictates that any candidate who wins an election must move into the district within three months.

On Tuesday afternoon, Ayala arrived at the Golden Hill Street courthouse with her mother, Democratic registrar of voters Sandi Ayala.

State Rep. Ayala is no stranger to the courthouse. Just two weeks ago she was there to face charges of evading responsibility, failure to obey a traffic signal and failure to renew her vehicle's registration in connection with a hit-and-run crash in August.

When she appeared before Superior Court Judge Earl Richards on the most recent charge, she stood chewing gum as the judge reviewed the litany of things she can no longer do under a protective order he was imposing on her.

Ayala momentarily stopped her gum chewing to answer "yes" when Richards asked her if she understood his order.

Under the order, Ayala can no longer reside at 49 Hillside Ave., where police said she has been living with Rodriguez-Ortiz.

Ayala tried to ignore a question about whether she now intends to resign her House seat as she and her mother hurried from the courthouse. Pressed, she finally stated: "No comment, sir."

Democratic Mayor Bill Finch, the titular head of the Democratic Party in Bridgeport, found out about Ayala's arrest from a reporter after his visit to Bridgeport Elderly Housing at 2400 North Avenue.

"She was arrested again? For what?" Finch said.

Finch's administration has been particularly sensitive about Bridgeport's image. Asked if Ayala's recent run-ins with the law compromise her ability to effectively represent the city in Hartford, Finch said: "What I'll say about that is domestic violence is a very serious problem in the city. Obviously we're at the early stages of an incident. It's going to have to be investigated. I would urge the police to investigate it thoroughly and bring guilty parties to justice."

Finch said it was premature to say whether he or other Democratic leaders should meet with Ayala to discuss her conduct because her two cases have not been resolved.

"We created a judicial system for a reason," he said. "So let's see what they say."

Ayala's cousin and her predecessor representing the 128th District -- Senator Elect Andres Ayala -- could not be reached for comment.

But state Rep. Jack Hennessy, another member of the city's legislative delegation, said he is uncomfortable with Christina's arrests.

"The delegation is always trying to be cohesive and we have, I think, done a pretty good job of doing that," Hennessy said. "This is an embarrassment and I really do question her judgment."

But Hennessy questioned whether the city Democratic leaders will respond, referring to comments city chairman Mario Testa made following Ayala's hit-and-run incident about any potential impact on her legislative campaign.

"It just seems that the bar is very low to have a chairman who basically says, `Hey, if you haven't killed anybody, what's the big deal?' and sweeps everything under the rug," Hennessy said.

At the time Testa said, "There was no fatality involved. If there was a fatality involved then I would say yes, it would have an impact on her. I'd be the first one to request her resignation."

Reached at his restaurant, Testo's, Tuesday evening, Testa, like Finch, said he was unaware of Ayala's second arrest. He said it is concerning and he plans to schedule time to talk with Ayala.

He said using her position to apparently try to avoid the arrest is "totally wrong."

"I find it even myself, being involved in politics, I never use my position to get away from something," Testa said.

Testa also said when she was nominated that she lived in the 128th District.

"Definitely, I have to make some type of appointment and talk to her and get all the details and see what's involved and come to some kind of conclusion," Testa said.

City Councilwoman Susan Brannelly, D-130, said although Ayala has yet to be convicted, "it just seems to me she doesn't make good choices" and should be encouraged to resign. "If, before she's sworn in, she hasn't made good choices, what is the likelihood she's going to represent us well and make good choices for the city?"

In his telephone interview, Testa said that "nobody can force her to resign."

Ayala was released on a promise to appear in court at a later date, while Rodriguez-Ortiz, was released after posting a $2,500 bond.